20+ Netflix libraries including US, UK, JP, AU, CA, FR, DE, KR. Lightway 2.0 is the fastest and most reliable protocol. MediaStreamer Smart DNS works on Apple TV and smart TVs without installing the VPN app.
Full Ranking
| # | VPN | Netflix US | Netflix UK | Netflix JP | Libraries | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 #1 | ExpressVPN | ok | ok | ok | 20+ | 930 Mbps |
| 🥈 #2 | NordVPN | ok | ok | ok | 15+ | 953 Mbps |
| 🥉 #3 | Surfshark | ok | ok | mid | 10+ | 882 Mbps |
| #4 | ProtonVPN | ok | mid | no | 6+ | 820 Mbps |
| #5 | CyberGhost | ok | ok | mid | 8+ | 891 Mbps |
Why Netflix Blocks VPNs
Netflix geo-restricts content because studio licensing rights are sold country by country. A show licensed for US Netflix may be unavailable in the UK or Japan. Netflix's technology team maintains a blocklist of VPN IP ranges and updates it constantly — meaning a VPN that worked last month may be blocked today.
Good VPNs counter this by rotating IPs faster than Netflix can block them. A premium VPN with dedicated streaming servers stays unblocked; a free or cheap VPN gets blocked within hours of being listed.
How We Test Netflix Unblocking
VPNHotDeals.com tests Netflix access from a Warsaw-based 1 Gbps test machine. We connect to each VPN's recommended streaming server for each target country, then attempt to load region-specific content. We record the result as Unblocked, Inconsistent, or Blocked. Tests run on the 1st and 15th of each month. Results below are from March 2, 2026.
We test 7 streaming platforms: Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and DAZN. The results on this page are Netflix-specific.
ExpressVPN: Why It Wins for Netflix
ExpressVPN's Lightway 2.0 protocol is purpose-built for speed and reliability. Unlike OpenVPN, Lightway reconnects in under a second if the connection drops — critical when a server IP gets blocked mid-stream. The result: fewer interruptions and faster library switching between countries.
MediaStreamer is ExpressVPN's Smart DNS service, included free with every subscription. It works on devices that cannot run VPN apps — Apple TV, Sony smart TVs, Samsung TVs, gaming consoles — by routing only DNS queries through ExpressVPN infrastructure. Setup takes about 5 minutes in TV network settings.
NordVPN SmartPlay: The Close Second
NordVPN's SmartPlay is a hybrid technology combining a VPN with Smart DNS. Every NordVPN server has SmartPlay built in — no separate configuration needed. In our tests, SmartPlay successfully unblocked Netflix in 15 countries including US, UK, JP, CA, AU, DE, FR, IT, ES, NL, SE, NO, DK, BR, and MX.
Where NordVPN falls short of ExpressVPN: Japanese Netflix and Korean Netflix are harder markets. Only 2 of the 5 VPNs we tested managed JP consistently — ExpressVPN was more reliable across the harder regions.
ExpressVPN unblocked 20+ Netflix libraries in March 2026 including US, UK, JP, AU, CA. NordVPN via SmartPlay covers 15+ libraries and is extremely reliable. Both are tested daily by VPNHotDeals.com.
Netflix geo-blocks content because studio licensing rights are sold country by country. Netflix maintains a blocklist of VPN IP ranges and updates it constantly. Good VPNs rotate IPs faster than Netflix can block them — which is why premium VPNs stay unblocked while free ones fail quickly.
Minimal impact with a good VPN. ExpressVPN added only 2-3% speed overhead in our tests — at 930 Mbps, 4K Netflix (which needs 25 Mbps) is completely unaffected. On a standard 50 Mbps home connection the overhead is imperceptible.
Rarely and unreliably. Most free VPNs are blocked by Netflix immediately. ProtonVPN Free can sometimes unblock Netflix US but it is inconsistent. For reliable daily Netflix access a paid VPN is required.
Yes via MediaStreamer Smart DNS included free with every subscription. Configure your TV DNS settings — no VPN app required. Works on Apple TV, Samsung, Sony, LG, and most streaming sticks.